Alpacas give Wisconsin farmer a unique business model

A former educator and dairy farmer has found his niche in fiber and ag tourism. Kevin Stoer started raising alpacas about thirty years ago on a former dairy farm near Two Rivers, Wisconsin.  He says the alpaca fleece is cut once a year, usually in May, and that fiber is very useful for creating warm…… Continue Reading

Transition planning can be complicated

An agricultural law expert says farm transition planning can be difficult and complicated. Will McKinley with the Menn Law Firm tells Brownfield farm transition can be especially challenging for dairy farms, and he says farm families need good legal counsel, tax counsel, and financial counsel to avoid costly mistakes.  McKinley says depending on how the…… Continue Reading

Connecting consumers to the pork industry 

The 2025 interns for the Ohio Pork Council interns say the state fair was an opportunity for producers to connect directly with consumers.  Anna Meyer says the organization’s educational experiences showcase the importance of the industry.  “It really goes from start to finish,” she says. “The sow display really shows what our farmers do on a…… Continue Reading

Fertilizer prices continue to rise

The president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association says fertilizer prices continue to climb.                     KJ Johnson says global factors are weighing on all varieties of fertilizer. “There’s Russia, you’re talking China, you’re talking Morocco, talking about import duties, stuff like that.”  He says, “I mean, there’s an import duty on phosphates. China also produces…… Continue Reading

Pest pressure hitting corn and soybeans

A cropping systems specialist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says insect pressure has been extremely variable this season. Ron Seymore tells Brownfield western bean cutworm infestations have been unusually high in corn. “The moth flight was very high. That insect will lay its eggs on the corn as its tasseling and the eggs will hatch…… Continue Reading

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